By JASON CAMPBELL  

209 Living

SAN FRANCISCO – Tired of the same old New Year’s Eve parties with the same old people?

Looking for something a bit more sophisticated to ring in the New Year that’s chock full of possibilities?

Then San Francisco is the place that you want to be in two weeks when people pack the city’s waterfront to usher in 2017 the same way that they have every single New Year’s Eve – by watching fireworks over the San Francisco Bay and braving the cold December and January temperatures with one another, united in spirit.

And if that isn’t your idea of a good time, don’t worry – there are plenty of other things going on in San Francisco that night that are sure to strike your fancy.

*Cirque Du Soleil at AT&T Park – Much like the waterfront celebration, this, for the majority that don’t have access to a luxury box or the stadium’s Club Level, will be an outdoor event featuring some of the best acrobats and gymnasts in the world doing what it is that they do best. And just like they do in their multiple Las Vegas shows, there will be more than one performance on Dec. 31 – the latter beginning at 11:30 p.m. Can you think of a better way to tell 2016 that you owned it than by watching fireworks erupting over AT&T Park while watching the performers of Cirque Du Soleil do their thing? Me neither.

*Speakeasy New Year’s Eve Cruise 2017 – Tickets for this event are selling out fast, and at $275 each they aren’t exactly cheap. But for this unique celebration, the Fume Blanc Commodore yacht serves as the backdrop for this Great Gatsby-themed event. And the Fume Blanc isn’t exactly your typical ship. While all in the Commodore fleet are tastefully appointed, this one is built as a replica of the Hudson River Steamboat from the era, features three decks with bars on every one and wraparound terraces that give breathtaking views of the jewel of Northern California. The tickets include admission, four hours of an open bar, and complementary New Year’s Eve party favors. If you can afford it, this is one that you’re not going to want to miss.

*Fireworks on the Embarcadero – This can either be the cheap or the pricey option depending on your mood. Because the fireworks can be seen from nearly everywhere around Justin Herman Plaza, there really isn’t a bad place to catch them. But if you’re feeling high class, admission tickets which start at $60 (the $40 general admission tickets are sold out) give you access to the best views in the house. That is unless you want to spring for anything from $649 to $2,549 depending on the size of your party to get a reserved table space, a view of the fireworks and VIP bottle service. Regardless of your choice or your budget, you can’t go wrong at the biggest New Year’s Eve Party in Northern California.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.